Chapter 16

\-One and a half years later-

Saying goodbye was harder than it seemed. The time I spent with him made me love my life with Jacques, even if it was a loveless marriage.

Two weeks after our second-year anniversary, we registered our marriage at the nearest district office. It was an intricate process as it involved us getting clearance from the embassy of our home country. However, Jacques settled it easily and in addition, he even threw us a special celebration. We restricted the private party to just the two of us, and it was a secret from everyone we knew. 

In my heart, I still wondered if it all didn’t come up to this, would I be walking down the aisle with Syl instead?

Maybe then, yes. But now, it would never happen in this lifetime. It was a truth I found it difficult to accept, but I had to accept my fate.

To commemorate the occasion between us, Jacques rented a luxury car as our wedding car and decked the front of the car with a pair of couple teddies. According to him, that night, I forgot everything, and we made love madly, although I couldn’t remember it. All I remembered was the next day, I woke up and stared at my reflection in the mirror and our wedding photograph on the dresser.

I couldn’t believe it was me, leading a happy and peaceful life as Jacques’ wife. I took in the laundry I had washed every day and made him a simple meal for dinner before he embarked on his night shifts.

But was this what I wanted to do? Lie low and wait for the enemy to come and get me? Every time I looked at the calendar, I saw one thing that made me frightened. During that time, I anticipated that Lenard Lee would strike again after a year. I knew he had people who were monitoring us and even I didn’t dare to leave the house for fear that I would get ambushed and abducted again.

Jacques seemed to know, yet remained silent. He never spoke about the incident after he rescued me, and he took it upon him to personally escort me to ‌every therapy session, even waiting outside the room until I was done. Sometimes, Dr Soleil also asked him to join in the sessions. But seeing his exhausted face, I knew he was overworked from trying to provide us with a happy and comfortable life.

Even if I didn’t love him, I had strong feelings for him ‌I saw him as my life partner and I trusted him with all my heart. I was happy, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to relax without putting an end to the threats I felt from Lenard Lee. Sherry continued receiving funds from Lee Jung, and our relationship was now strained.

But it was only until her former husband Anderson tracked her down in Thailand that I realised what was most important in her life. And it was never her friendship with me. She had even found a new friend in Shila, thus replacing me. I understood May would never be Piper, and her perceived best friend was Piper, not May. 

It didn’t occur to me ‌she would listen to Shila’s advice and follow her on the double date because she thought Andrew needed a father.

Shila now seemed to be her best friend, not that version of me earlier.

And this made me feel a stronger desire to leave.

Sherry chose Anderson and Andrew, and I left. Jacques saw me off at the airport with a heavy heart.

After fifteen minutes, I uttered, “Goodbye.”

He stared at me so vehemently that I was sure he had a lot of things on his mind that he probably wanted to ask me. But in the end, he said nothing. He remained silent and said solemnly, “All the best.”

I ignored the people around us and stood on tiptoe to reach his height. My lips met Jacques’ lips briefly. It was a quick kiss that lasted for only a few seconds. His warmth spread into my mouth and I sensed the urge to fall into his arms like before. I wanted to hear him tell me how he loved me and didn’t want to go. That he needed me in his life and he would nullify my pain.

Maybe if he did, I would change my mind. But his expression didn’t change at all. When I pulled away from his lips, his face‌ remained sullen.

“Jacques…” I mouthed his name.

He hugged me. “The gates are closing soon, Piper. You know I’ll always support you no matter what happens. Go now, Piper, if this is what you want. I’ll always be with you.”

Tears stained my eyes. I was almost crying, and this was all he said? That he wanted me to leave and seek what I wanted?

Even if it meant this would be the last time between us?

I felt him still watching me when I walked further away from him, drying my eyes with the edges of my sleeves. It was a long walk to the terminal where I would board a long flight back to the city we came from. I had spent three years doing nothing and just hiding like an illegal immigrant.

The path in front of me was not an easy one. I had the strength in my limbs now and I told myself, as long as I persevered, I could take down an entire army. I looked down at my passport and the name of my spouse.

It was the last time I would go by the name May Jensen. When I returned to our city, I would resume Piper’s identity, Piper Taylor.. I touched the ring on my finger and unclasped the necklace Jacques had given me. Then I took off the ring and wound it on the necklace, wearing it over my neck. This way, I would always remember Jacques and the love and kindness he showered on me.

Even if I died, I would bring these memories to the grave.

I heard the public announcement calling out my flight number, and I hastened my steps on the travelator, lugging my small luggage. When I stopped outside the gate, I noticed the passengers scanning their hand luggage.

I inhaled and tightened the beanie around my head, tucking my hair, which I now dyed a bright scarlet red, under the hat. Travelling alone made me a little nervous. The time I boarded the plane to Thailand, Jacques was with me. But now, I was alone and just seeing a crowd of strangers who would travel with me scared me.

A voice in me was telling me to be strong, and I listened. I removed my jacket, dropping the jacket along with my cellphone and the items in my jeans pocket into a small tray, which they would scan for security measures.   

Observing my hand luggage and the tray with my personal items, I took out my passport again and walked through the narrow body scanner. 

The machine gave a low beep as it scanned me. A woman, dressed in a smart uniform, came forward and scanned me again with her handheld device.

She smiled amicably. “Going home?”

I just nodded and flashed the page of my passport with my photo on it at her. 

“Mrs Jensen, I wish you a safe trip.”

“Thank you,” I muttered. I just kept walking forward, without looking back. I entered the waiting area and sat down, looking inside my luggage for the items that I had packed.

My eyes widened when my fingers came into contact with something soft, and my heart wavered.

Jacques had placed the male bear from the pair of teddies we had for our wedding car into the luggage. In its paw, Jacques had attached a message.

“Piper,

Finally, our chapter has ended. 

I am sorry that I have nothing to give you, other than the memories of our happiness, even though it was short-lived.

I wish you all the best of luck in your new chapter. 

Hoping that you will achieve your wish and get back what you deserve from those who hurt you. 

I know you will make them all pay. 

In this life, I only loved you. I will pray for your safety.

\-Jacques”

I felt tears fill my eyes again, and I just put the note back into the luggage and zipped it up.

Then, upon hearing an announcement from the flight attendant, I gathered myself together and queued among the other passengers. It was time to board the plane, and from my remembrance, they would call first the passengers who were in first-class and the elderly as well.

I promised myself that everything would go well from now on. I would allow no one to hurt me again while clutching the bear close to my heart.

“Jacques, if there is such a thing as reincarnation, I hope it can reunite us in our next life. This time, I’ll be the one to pursue you,” I whispered in an inaudible tone.

As I walked down the stairs following the other passengers towards the plane, my goal felt closer.